We'll begin our worship by singing to God's praise.
We're going to sing in Psalm 20, in the Scottish Psalter.
Psalm 20, we're singing verse 1 to verse 7, the tune is Kilmarnock.
Jehovah, hear thee in the day when trouble he does send,
and let the name of Jacob's God thee from all ill defend.
Psalm speaks about the help we get from the Lord,
and in verse 7 we're reminded of how some people put confidence in horses.
In chariots, some put confidence in some horses thrust upon.
That speaks of a time when people looked to the help of nations and armies around them,
that they would support them in their time of need.
But it says, but we remember, will the name of our Lord God alone.
We're reminded there to put our hope and our trust and confidence in God alone.
So let's sing verse 1 to verse 7 to God's praise.
Jehovah, hear thee in the day when trouble he does send,
And let the name of Jacob's God
The prophet will defend
O let him help send the mother
Out of his sanctuary
From Zion his own glory
Let him give strength to thee
Let him be ever all I give
I'll set thy sacrifice
Grant me thy heart's wish
And fulfill thy thoughts
And counsel wise
In thy salvation we will join
In our cross name we will
His play of others
And the Lord thy players all fulfill
Now know why God his kingdom say
He from his holy hand
Will hear him when the saving strength
By his own right hand
In the chariot some good confidence
Some horses trust upon
That we remember
Will the name
Of our Lord God alone
Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer
Let us pray
Lord our gracious God
We do thank you for your word
And for the great privilege it is
To be able to sing praise to you
That you are the one who we can come
And call upon at this time
And indeed any time
Be it day or night Lord
We thank you that you are the one
Who is able to hear us
When we cry in our trouble
And we thank you that it is under your name
That we are able to find refuge
That we are able to find protection
And we know Lord that we all need you
We are all a people who are
Perishing as your word says
We are all a people who have
Within us Lord that knowledge
That our time in this world
Is but passing by so quickly
You are reminded to us Lord
So often
When we hear of people passing
In young age
When we hear of so many things
That happen around us
In our own lives and experience
When we see what is taking place
Throughout the world
We are reminded of
A people perishing always
But we thank you that your word
Reminds us too
That there is life through you
That although our time in this world
May be short
That for each of us
There is a reminder of an eternity
Before us
An unending age
An experience for which
We all must prepare
For your word reminds us
To be ready
To be prepared for that day
A day when the Lord is coming
To judge a people
To judge all people
And we know that it is only
Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
That we are ready for that day
And so we pray Lord
That you will help us
To find our refuge in you
To find in the Lord Jesus Christ
The one who is able
To take away our sin
The one who is able to cleanse us
The one who is able
To keep us from stumbling
And we pray Lord
That even this night
As we come together
As we think of ourselves
And as we think of all
That's going on around us
That you will help us
All to see Jesus
Help us all to know him
And through your word
And by your spirit
As we once again come and hear
Your word speaking to us
Help us that it will not
Pass over us
Or not just pass through us
But that it will take root
That it will take root
In our hearts
And that it will help us
To come
And know what it is
To be a people of faith
And to be built up
In the faith
And so may you be with us
In our time of worship
And be with all
Who gather as we do
To praise your name
And we do thank you
As always Lord
That from the rising of the sun
To its setting
That your name is praised
Throughout the world
We marvel at the situations
Where your name is praised
We thank you Lord
For so many nations
Of the world
So many people
So many tribes
And tongues
All connected by your name
The name that is above
Every name
We thank you for brothers
And sisters around the world
We thank you that we are one
In Christ Jesus
And we pray Lord
That you will help us
To be united
And bound together as one
That all our differences
All our different ways
Of looking at things
All the differences of opinion
That might exist
Even among your own people
That we will be all agreed
In one thing
That salvation belongs to God
And that salvation is found
In the Lord Jesus Christ
And so may your name
Be glorified far and wide
May you draw sinners to you
Even anew this day
May they be rejoicing in heaven
Over sinners being saved
We pray that even for ourselves here
Lord that the heavens
Would rejoice this night
As people's hearts would be opened
As they would receive by grace
The Lord Jesus Christ
As they would know him
As only he can be known
Through your word
And by your spirit
That we would come to know him
Even more personally
And even more intimately
That we would weep over our sins
That then we would rejoice
In the goodness of God
And in the forgiveness of our sins
Through faith
And so Lord
May you bless us in our time
And hear our prayers
As we offer them up
Hear our prayers
For our people here
And belonging to us
We know Lord
That the troubles of this world
Are many
And how many need you
In different ways this night
How many need your help
In times of illness
How many people need you
In times of grief and sorrow
How many people who need you
In times of fear
And anxiety and worry
We know all around us
That the troubles of this world
Are many
But we thank you
For the great gift
And the power of prayer
And so may you surround our people
May you be with them
In all their different needs
Young, old, middle-aged alike
That all of our needs
Would be met by you
For you know them each one
You know every home
Where there are tears being wept
Even at this time
You know every home
Where there is sorrow and sadness
You know every home
Where there is longing
Longing to know you
Longing to be among your people
Longing for help and support
In so many different ways
And Lord, teach us and help us
To love one another
Teach us to get to know one another
To pray for one another as we should
To encourage one another
To help one another
Lord, we pray that you will surround us
And build us up together
As a people
For as your word says
We are one body
Of many parts
And when one part hurts
The rest of the body
Is affected as well
And so we pray, Lord
For all our pains
And all our sorrows
Oh Lord, that you will comfort and help
But we thank you too
That there is reason
For rejoicing in you
That you are the God
Who is at work
That you are the God
Who is building his church
That you are the God
Who will not be overcome
And so we rejoice, Lord
In your kingdom
A kingdom that is coming with power
And we thank you
That throughout the world
That you are bearing fruit
And we pray for our own nation
At this time
That in the troubles
That we see around us
You would turn us towards you
That our nation would again
Bear fruit for you
Bear fruit from the top
Top of our society
All the way down
From those who rule
And govern over us, Lord
To our councils
To our homes
And our families
All around us
To our workplaces
And throughout our communities
Far and wide
Oh Lord, that your spirit
Will be upon us
To bring a day of your power
Into our midst
So we pray, Lord
For leaders over us
And for potential leaders
Over us
And for all that goes on
In our land
We pray for your wisdom
And for your guidance
We pray for your peace
Throughout the world
Peace in the nations
Of conflict and troubles
That are many
Peace in the midst
Of terror and fear
And so many other things
We pray, Lord
For your healing hand
To be upon us
To bring conflicts
To an end
To turn war into peace
To bring a renewal
Into our lands, oh Lord
Where we see evil
That we would see good
Oh Lord, we ask these things
Acknowledging our own weakness
We can do nothing
Apart from you
And so we ask
Independence upon you
Asking, knowing
That you are Lord
And God of all
And so we pray, Lord
That you will help us
To have faith
And to pray with that faith
We thank you
For all our people here
And we pray
Your blessing
On all that's been done
This day
For our young people
In our services of worship
And in the fellowship
To come this evening as well
We pray, Lord
That your blessing
Will follow all things
We thank you
For the youth fellowship
To take place
And may it be blessed
To all who attend
We thank you
For Muriel, Lord
For the time
She has enjoyed
At home with us
And for her preparations
For going away, Lord
We pray for everything
That needs to be done
To enable her
To go back to Cambodia
And as she looks forward
To returning to that work
God willing
We pray
Your protection
And your blessing on her
And upon all
The work that she does
There with so many others
We pray, Lord
That your blessing
Will follow it
And for all your people
Who serve you
Near and far, Lord
We pray for strength
For encouragement
And for your help
In persevering
And keeping on
In all that we do
So bless us now
And go before us
Pardoning all our sin
As we ask it all
In Jesus' name
Amen
Well again, sing to God's praise
This time in Psalm 27
In the Sing Psalms version
Page 32 of the Psalm books
We're going to sing
From verse 9
To verse 14
The end of the Psalm
Psalm 27
At verse 9
Do not hide your face from me
And do not turn aside
Your servant in your righteous wrath
For you have been my guide
O God, my Saviour
Leave me not
Do not reject my plea
My parents may forsake me, Lord
But you will welcome me
We'll sing from verse 9
To the end of the Psalm
And the tune is Belmont
Oh, do not hide your face from me
And do not turn aside
Your servant in your righteous wrath
For you have been my guide
O God, my Saviour
Leave me not
Do not reject my plea
My valence may forsake me, Lord
But you will welcome me
Teach me, O Lord
How I should live
And lead me in your way
Make straight my path
In all time falls
Oppress me every day
Give me not over to the will
Of David Gentiles
For my heart
To slander me
For my heart
To slander me
And greet the cruelty
Yet I am sure
That in this time
God's goodness
I will see
Wait for the Lord
Lord
He strong
Take heart
For him
Wake
Wait patiently
Wait for the Lord
I am sure
We are going to take
To the second
Book of the Bible
Before Revelation
The letter of Jude
Read the whole of this letter together
The letter of Jude
From the beginning
Jude
A servant of Jesus Christ
And brother of James
To those who are called beloved in God
The father and kept for Jesus Christ
May mercy
Peace
And love
Be multiplied to you
Beloved
Although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation
I found it necessary to write appealing to you
To contend
For the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints
For certain people have crept in unnoticed
Who long ago were designated for this condemnation
And godly people
Who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality
And deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ
Now I want to remind you
Although you once fully knew it
That Jesus who saved a people out of the land of Egypt
Afterwards destroyed those who did not believe
And the angels who did not stay within their own position
Of authority
But left their proper dwelling
He has kept in eternal chains
Under gloomy darkness
Until the judgment of the great day
Just as Sodom and Gomorrah
And the surrounding cities
Which likewise indulged in sexual immorality
And pursued unnatural desire
Serve as an example by undergoing a punishment
Of eternal fire
Yet in like manner these people also
Relying on their dreams
Defile the flesh
Reject authority
And blaspheme the glorious ones
But when the archangel Michael
Contending with the devil
Was disputing about the body of Moses
He did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment
But said
The Lord rebuke you
But these people blaspheme
All that they do not understand
And they are destroyed by all that they
Like unreasoning animals
Understand instinctively
Woe to them
For they walked in the way of Cain
And abandoned themselves
For the sake of gain to Balaam's error
And perished in Korah's rebellion
These are blemishes on your love feasts
As they feast with you without fear
Looking after themselves
Waterless clouds
Swept along by winds
Fruitless trees
In late autumn
Twice dead
Uprooted
Wild waves of the sea
Casting up the foam
Of their own shame
Wandering stars
For whom the gloom of utter darkness
Has been reserved forever
It's also about these
That Enoch the seventh from Adam
Prophesied saying
Behold the Lord came with ten thousands
Of his holy ones
To execute judgment on all
And to convict all the ungodly
Of all their deeds of ungodliness
That they have committed
In such an ungodly way
And of all the harsh things
That ungodly sinners have spoken against him
These are grumblers
Grumblers
Malcontents
Following their own sinful desires
They are loud mouth boasters
Showing favoritism to gain advantage
But you must remember beloved
The predictions of the apostles
Of our Lord Jesus Christ
They said to you
In the last time
There will be scoffers
Following their own ungodly passions
It is these who cause divisions
Worldly people
Devoid of the spirit
But you beloved
Build yourselves up
In your most holy faith
Pray in the Holy Spirit
Keep yourselves in the love of God
Waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
That leads to eternal life
And have mercy on those who doubt
Save others by snatching them out of the fire
To others show mercy
With fear hating even the garment
Stained by the flesh
Now to him who is able
To keep you from stumbling
And to present you blameless
Before the presence of his glory
With great joy
To the only God our Saviour
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
Be glory, majesty, dominion and authority
Before all time and now and forever
Amen
May God bless that reading from his word
Before we turn back to that passage
We'll again sing to God's praise in Psalm 62
Again we're in the sing psalms
On page 79
Psalm 62
On page 79
We're going to sing from verse 1
To verse 8
And the tune is Herringate
My soul finds rest in God alone
From him comes my salvation sure
My safety, fortress, sheltering rock
In him alone I am secure
We'll sing from verse 1
To verse 8
To God's praise
My soul finds rest in God alone
From him comes my salvation sure
My safety, fortress, sheltering rock
In him alone I am secure
How long will you assault a man?
Do you all seek to lay in love?
This meany wall, this taunting face
And bring our albis overgrown
They plough his whole promises
They take delight in spreading light
With force and ploughing, bounding legs
But in their hearts
Curse and despise
Find praise my soul
In God alone
In him my hope is ever sure
My safety, fortress, sheltering rock
In him alone I am secure
My honor and salvation praise
On God my hope
My honor and salvation praise
On God my hope
My honor and salvation praise
On God my hope
My honor and salvation praise
On God my hope
My honor and salvation praise
On God my hope
My honor and salvation praise
On God my hope
My glory
On God my hope
My honor and salvation praise
On God my glory
All God my glory
Christ in him always, to him alone for a pure heart.
Well, we can turn back together to our reading in the letter of Jude.
And we're going to look at the end of this letter, verse 17 onwards in particular.
And just to note three things in these verses that we're going to focus in on particularly.
Verse 17, verse 20, and verse 24.
And twice it says there in verse 17 and 20,
But you, but you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Then at verse 20,
But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith.
And then in verse 24 it says,
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling.
And so on.
So we see there there's two, but you.
And then at the end, now to him.
That's what we're going to be looking at in particular this evening, these verses.
I'm sure many of you from time to time you'll receive a brown envelope through the post.
And that envelope will be marked, well marked now, on his majesty's service.
In the past it used to be on her majesty's service.
There's an element of importance attached to this envelope.
And maybe for some people you see it arriving and it fills you maybe with a sense of dread.
What am I going to see when I open this envelope?
For other people there may be a sense of anticipation.
I wonder if there's anything good coming inside this envelope.
Sometimes it's good where you maybe get tax back or something like that.
You get a rebate.
Other times and maybe more often, it's asking you to make payment.
That you owe something.
But whatever comes in this envelope, whenever that envelope arrives on his majesty's service,
there's one thing that you mustn't do with it.
And that is to ignore it.
Just to put it away somewhere and forget all about and say,
I'll deal with that later.
I'm just not interested on what's inside it.
We cannot ignore these kinds of letters.
And so as we turn to this letter of Jude this evening,
you see the way Jude describes himself in the opening verse of this letter.
And there is a reminder to us of the importance of this letter.
Indeed, the importance of all of God's word.
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ.
So this letter, it comes with a stamp of authority.
This is an important letter.
This is truly on his majesty's service.
Our king is speaking to us through his word.
And above all, as with all scripture, this is something that we cannot ignore.
Maybe for some of us, we look forward to hearing what this letter,
what God's word has to say to us.
Maybe for others, we're a little fearful coming to God's word
and hearing what is going to be in God's word for us.
Because we're always challenged, we're always convicted by God's word.
But one thing none of us can do is just choose to ignore it
and choose to put it away and maybe deal with it another time.
Because every time we hear this word, the king is speaking to us.
And so we want to hear what God the Lord is saying to us together
this evening through his word here.
And this is a letter that is maybe difficult to just figure out
who it's being written to.
Some have speculated whether it's written to Gentiles.
Some have said it's written more towards the Jewish people,
the two main kinds of people in Jude's day.
But most have come down on the side that it's written to both.
It's written to Christians, both Jews and Gentiles,
who, as we see in this letter,
are having to contend with having to deal with
false teaching coming into their midst.
They're living very much in the midst of a pagan society.
Society that really wants little to do with God.
And similar to what we were hearing together this morning
of Daniel and his days in Babylon.
Days when people were trying to pull them away from God
and bring them into their own ways of thinking.
And that's exactly what's happening here in Jude's day as well.
And as you look at this letter, you see in the opening verses,
in verse 3 and 4, we are told this congregation of Christians
that Jude is writing to, he's writing to encourage them
to contend for the faith.
It says that in verse 3.
I found it necessary to write appealing to you
to contend for the faith
that was once for all delivered to the saints.
So there's this purpose in his writing to the Christians
to contend with the faith, to keep going in the faith,
to remain strong in the faith.
And then he tells the reason why he has to write,
for certain people have crept in unnoticed,
who long ago were designated for this condemnation.
ungodly people who pervert the grace of our God.
So they were perverting the truth.
They were giving them this false teaching.
And so Jude is writing to them to encourage them
to contend in the faith, to keep going in the faith.
And from verse 5 to verse 16,
he outlines a number of the problems that they are facing,
a number of the challenges that they are facing,
what they are to beware of,
of all of these false teachers who have come.
And again, just like this morning with Daniel,
and as we look around our world today,
we're surrounded by false teaching,
by teaching that in many ways is crazy in our eyes.
But yet we find that even in the midst of all of this,
the word of God is so timely to us.
For every situation, for every circumstance
that we find ourselves in,
there's nothing new under the sun.
That's what God's words reminds us
in the book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament,
that there's nothing new under the sun.
And so as generations pass and as time goes on,
we find ourselves coming against the same issues
time and time again.
But then in verse 17 to verse 25,
Jude outlines the response that God's people are to have
in every generation, in every set of circumstances.
And that is to always look to God.
How to deal with these situations,
how to keep on,
it is always to look to God.
Because just as there's nothing new under the sun,
God is a constant in it all as well.
He is the one who has brought his people
through every occasion,
whether it's Daniel and his compatriots there in Babylon,
whether it's going back to the days of God's people in Egypt,
whether it's going into the New Testament
and the disciples going out with the Lord.
All of these things,
the constant is that God is faithful to his people.
And in this letter,
Jude gives us encouragement,
how to keep on.
The encouragement that people needed then
and that maybe we need today as well.
To keep going and to keep looking and trusting in God,
no matter what is going on around us.
And you see it in three parts,
as I was saying there in this letter to Jude.
Under these beginnings where he says,
but you, but you,
and now to him who is able.
And we're going to break it down into these three sections.
In verse 17 to 19,
he gives us a call to remembrance.
In verse 20 and 23,
he gives us an exhortation to grow,
to build ourselves up in the faith.
And then at the end of the letter,
verse 24 to 25,
we see we are to remember that God is the one
who is able to keep us.
That is what we have to do on the one hand,
and that what God is doing for his people
on the other hand,
and both go together.
And so in the midst of the variety of false teaching
that Jude is writing about in these opening verses,
he comes back to conclude the letter in a positive way,
giving instructions so we not only
see the challenges around us,
and the reality of God is over them,
but we also see that God is the one
who is able to bring us through them,
and that we can grow in our knowledge
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
So there's these two sides
to this Christian perseverance.
Our part to keep on,
and God's part in his keeping of us.
So the first thing we want to see
is the remembering side of things.
But just before we come to that,
I want us to think of these words
that it begins with in verse 17.
But you.
There's a change in the letter here with Jude.
After going through all that is wrong
in the false teaching that has come into their midst,
now he begins a new section in verse 17
saying, but you.
There's an indication here
that there are people who are to be different.
As we were hearing the children's address this morning,
it's this free from.
We are to be different as God's people.
And that's what these words mean at the start,
but you.
There's a challenge to God's people.
And that asks the question immediately of us,
what side are we on?
There's a contrast in the opening verses
of all that is wrong with the world of Jude's day,
where people are being pulled into this way of thinking,
this way of living.
You can read through it again
when you go home this evening.
But you see the manner of these people,
as he says in verse 8.
The manner of these people relying on their dreams,
defile the flesh,
reject authority,
blaspheme the glorious one.
All that is wrong with the people
is outlined almost in these words.
They put away authority,
they blaspheme the glorious one.
There is you who is on that side.
But as Jude goes on there in verse 17,
he says,
but you are different.
And so the question as we start is,
is that the side that you are on?
Are you on the side that is blaspheming the glorious one?
Going along with the pull of this world
and the way of this world
that's going further and further away from God?
Or are you like Daniel,
standing on the other side?
Standing for the Lord.
And maybe it's a question,
you're afraid to be asked.
It's a question you maybe want to avoid
at certain times.
Maybe it's a question you maybe dread a minister
coming to ask you.
But what about you?
But it's an unavoidable question.
And it's a question I put to you all tonight.
But you, this evening,
what side are you on?
Are we on the side that blasphemes?
Or are we on the side that is going on
in the strength of the Lord?
And as we move on,
we're going to see that the you that he is talking to here
is the side we must be on.
The side of faith.
The side of trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ
and growing in our knowledge of him.
But that question remains,
but you, what side are you on?
So then we go on to see what he's saying to these people.
And he says, first of all,
but you must remember, beloved,
the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He has warned that false teachers have come in.
But now he's saying to them,
there is this challenge.
But you, are you going to be different?
Are you going to remember the word of God?
Are you going to remember the predictions
of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ?
They said to you,
in the last time there will be scoffers
following their own ungodly passions.
So here he's challenging the people in us,
he's challenging ourselves
to remember these things,
to remember these warnings
that are come into our midst.
People speak about the last days
and if we're in the last days,
well here it's made clear for us
that even in Jude's day,
this was the last days.
Because scoffers had come into their midst.
And so in these days that we are living in today,
we are still seeing the same thing.
Scoffers following their own ungodly passions.
And how do we keep going in the midst of this?
How do we keep on?
How do we remain faithful?
We remember the predictions of the apostles
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So as we see so much around us
that doesn't make sense,
as we see so much that is a going away from God,
how do we respond?
Well there's certain kinds of reactions
that we could have.
Certain reactions that God's people in Jude's day,
in the day of our Lord Jesus,
in the days of the Old Testament,
that they would have had.
Reactions such as discouragement.
It can be so discouraging
when we see all of these things.
Worry can come in.
Where is our world going?
What direction are we going in?
And it's natural for us to feel these things.
Anger is a reaction we could have as well.
All of these things are reactions
that we could go through.
But Jude directs us here
in what our reaction should be.
to remember the predictions
of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Because that reminds us
that nothing should take us by surprise.
Nothing happens unknown to God.
All you have to do is look back
to the teaching of the Lord Jesus himself.
How he predicted these days himself.
In Matthew chapter 24,
Jesus gave these kinds of warnings
to his disciples
before his death and resurrection
and his ascension.
What did he say to them?
Matthew 24 verse 11,
Jesus tells his disciples,
and many false prophets
will arise and lead many astray.
This is what's going to happen.
This is the predictions
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the prediction
of the apostles.
Paul in the book of Acts chapter 20,
verse 29, he says,
I know that after my departure,
fierce wolves will come in among you,
not sparing the flock.
And he warns them
that even from among your own selves
will arise men speaking twisted things
to draw away the disciples after them.
So what's he saying here?
He's saying,
remember the predictions
of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
They have told us
that these things will happen.
And so as we hear that they will happen,
we are to be on our guard.
To be on our guard,
ready against them.
Jude is telling us
not to be discouraged,
not to be dismayed at all of this.
This is part of the outworking
of the last days.
We may expect things to go
from strength to strength
for the cause of God.
We may expect blessing after blessing.
We pray for it.
But it's not always the case.
There are challenges.
There are persecutions.
There are trials of all different kinds.
Even when we have faith.
It's a bit like getting a medicine.
Taking a tablet.
And on the tablet,
it will tell you
what you're to take this tablet for.
It's going to help you
with a certain kind of illness
that you have.
But if you don't read the tablet,
if you don't read the instructions,
you might start to feel
even more unwell for a time.
You might start to feel unwell
in a different way
for a time.
And you're thinking,
this isn't right.
This shouldn't be.
This tablet is meant to help me.
But with so much medication,
it tells you
that there are side effects.
And if you don't read them,
you don't know
that they're going to come.
And it can catch you off guard.
But if you've read them,
you'll know that they'll come
at some point.
And it won't catch you off guard.
And so,
Jude is saying here,
just like that,
although you have blessings
in Christ Jesus,
remember that there are those
who will come,
scoffers following their own
ungodly passions.
There are those who will seek
to lead people astray.
And as you remember these things,
then you are prepared for them.
Paul's charge to Timothy,
to his young friend Timothy,
was to remain faithful
to the Word of God.
Because he warned them,
holding faith and a good conscience.
Because by rejecting this,
some have made a shipwreck
of their faith.
Some who have forgotten
the predictions of the apostles.
Some who have forgotten
what God's Word says.
Some who have not been prepared
for the attacks
that have come their way.
They've made a shipwreck
of their faith.
And how easy it is for us
to lose heart,
not remembering
what the Word of God says.
And in that,
we can end up
in a shipwreck
or a car crash
of our own faith too.
In the early 90s,
going back about 30 years now,
there was a commercial,
an advert on the telly
for two different kinds of cars.
And the advert began
with a car heading
towards this wall.
And the brakes being applied,
but the car crashes
into the wall
and it's a wreck.
But yet,
because of the way
the car has been designed,
the people inside
are kept safe
by airbags
and the strength
of the structure
around them.
I think that's
quite impressive.
But then,
there was another car
showing
in the same kind of situation,
heading for the wall.
But when the person
applies the brakes,
the brakes are so good
that before the car crashes,
it comes to a stop.
And at this point,
the man speaking
in the advert cuts in
and he says,
cuts in to ask,
would you prefer
to live through wrecks
or not get in wrecks
in the first place?
And that's what God's Word
is so often doing for us.
It's helping us
that we don't end up
in this shipwreck,
in this car crash
of our faith
because we're forgetting
the things
that God has told us.
And so,
we are told here,
but you
must remember,
beloved,
the predictions
of the apostles
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that these scoffers,
these people
who will seek
to lead us astray,
they will come in.
But he's saying,
you keep on.
Keep on
by remembering
the Word of God.
And then he goes on
secondly to say
to them here,
but you, beloved,
so there's more
to come here as well.
It's not just
remembering
and holding on to that,
but now he's saying,
beloved,
build yourselves up
in your most
holy faith.
Pray
in the Holy Spirit.
Keep yourselves
in the love of God,
waiting
for the mercy
of our Lord Jesus Christ
that leads
to eternal
life.
So,
here we are again,
but you.
And we ask ourselves
again,
is this what you
are like?
Is this the side
that you come down on?
You have heard
the phrase,
the best form
of defense
is attack.
And so,
Jude is here
saying,
not just to defend
ourselves
by remembering
the predictions,
but to go
on the offensive
here as well,
to build yourselves
up in your
most holy faith,
to do this
as we all must,
to build ourselves
up in the holy faith,
praying in the Holy Spirit,
keeping yourself
in the love of God.
And so,
it goes on.
So,
Jude is giving
this direction
to us
for growth,
building ourselves
up in the faith,
the building blocks
of our faith,
the things
that we are
to put
into practice.
And it boils down
to these four things,
four basics
of the Christian faith,
but you
must do this.
Build yourselves
up
in your most
holy faith.
faith.
Be devoted
to the Word
of God.
Believe
the Word
of God.
Hold fast
the Word
of God.
Just like he was saying
to remember
the predictions
of the apostles
that scoffers
would come,
we add to this
everything else
that the Word
of God
sees.
Everything else
that the Word
of God
teaches us,
that we are
sinners,
that we have
fallen short
of the glory
of God,
but that Jesus
came to save
us from
our sin.
And that through
faith and repentance
we have this
hope of
eternal life.
Be devoted
to the Word
of God
to make it
your daily
portion
day by day,
not to neglect
what this
Word of God
is saying,
not to see it
as a letter
that can just
be put away
and forgotten
about and
ignored,
but that this
is God
himself,
our Lord
and King
speaking to
us.
And he's
saying,
build yourselves
up in your
most holy
faith.
And then he
says as well,
pray in the
Holy Spirit.
Again,
it's a part
of our lives
that we must
never neglect,
reminding ourselves
how dependent
we are on
God as we
seek to
persevere.
We are
dependent on
him to
persevere,
to keep
going.
Pray in
the Holy
Spirit.
Pray in
the one who
is called
alongside us,
the one who
Jesus promised
would come
and be our
comforter.
Be the one
called alongside
us to help
us and to
remind us that
he is with
us.
And so we
pray in
his name.
And then he
speaks about
our experience.
Keep
yourselves in
the love
of God.
It's not
just about
reminding
ourselves that
we love
God and
leaving it
at that,
but it's
living in
the knowledge
of God's
love for
us and
how that
affects all
that we
do.
Because to
feel unloved
by God
paralyzes us.
To feel a
failure before
God as we
so often
do, it
paralyzes us
and our
service is
hindered.
But here
he says,
keep
yourselves
in the
love of
God.
And
especially as
we think of
everything else
that seeks to
pull us back
into the
world.
If we
think,
there's no
way God
can love
me.
And the
things of
this world
we think,
well, we
might as
well just
go back.
But he's
saying here,
keep yourselves
in the
love of
God.
Remind
yourself,
what does
any false
teacher have
to offer
me that
compares to
the love
of God?
There is
nothing that
this world
can give
me that
will improve
my life
compared to
knowing the
love of
God.
The love
of God
that gave
his own
son for
our sins.
The love
of God
that is
able to
preserve us
and to
keep us
on in
this world.
A love
of God
that's not
dependent on
our perfectly
loving him
because we
so often
don't.
But remembering
the steadfast
love of
God that
never changes.
His love
love towards
us.
That we
have been
made a
son and
daughter of
the Most
High.
That we
have been
brought into
his family.
That we
are precious
to him
keeping
ourselves
in the
love of
God.
And then he
says too,
waiting for
the mercy
of our
Lord Jesus
Christ that
leads to
eternal life.
Again, that
ties into
how Jude is
speaking about
in these
last times.
When everything
seems to be
descending into
chaos, when
everything seems
to be going
away from
the glory of
God, we
remind ourselves
of this.
We are
waiting for
the mercy
of our
Lord Jesus
Christ.
That he
is coming.
And that he
will restore
all things
for his
people.
a people
who are
led to
eternal
life through
faith in
him.
And as we
hold on to
these things,
build ourselves
up in
these things,
it reminds
us to
have mercy,
as he
says, on
those who
doubt.
To save
others by
snatching
them out
of the
fire.
To others
show mercy
with fear,
hating even
the garments
stained by
the flesh.
The more
we see
the love
of God,
the more
we see
the fact
that he
is coming
and that
there is
eternal
life for
those who
believe,
we also
see that
there are
people who
are perishing.
Perishing in
their ignorance
as he speaks
and describes
them off in
the earlier
verses.
So much of
what they
are doing
is out of
ignorance.
And so
he reminds
us here
that we
are a
people who,
as we know
the love
of God,
are to
share
that love
of God
as well.
Build
yourselves
up,
he says.
When you
see young
children,
whether it's
your own
children or
maybe helping
in creche and
tweenies and
these things,
whenever you
see children,
they're so
often attracted
to building
blocks,
whether it's
Lego or
blocks,
they just
love to
build things.
And only
often is to
build as
high as
they can.
And well,
as children
of God,
we too are
deciding,
or should
decide,
to build
ourselves
to,
to build
ourselves
in our
most holy
faith,
putting all
these building
blocks together
to make
sure that
we are
doing our
part,
that our
love for
our Lord
is showing
itself in
all of
these ways.
A love
for the
word,
a love
for prayer,
keeping
yourselves
in the
love of
God,
reminding
ourselves
of that,
waiting
for the
mercy of
our Lord
Jesus
Christ,
and having
mercy on
those who
we see
around us
as lost.
Build
yourselves
up in
the most
holy
faith.
Then we
move from
this.
You think
it's all
about us
and what
we do,
and we
know it's
not,
and that's
how Jude
closes his
letter.
We are
reminded of
the things
that we
are to
do.
You,
but you
must remember
the predictions,
but you
build yourselves
up in the
faith,
but then we
are reminded
finally that
it is the
Lord who
keeps us.
Now to
him who
is able
to keep
you from
stumbling
and to
present you
blameless
before the
presence of
his glory
with great
joy.
So it
is him
who is
able to
keep us.
And we
are reminded
of that,
and there's
great comfort
to us
here.
How are
we going
to keep
on?
Well,
if it's
all about
ourselves,
we'll fall
short.
But you
remember the
teachings of
the apostles,
we'll forget
certain things.
We'll worry
about certain
things.
But you,
beloved,
build yourselves
up.
So often
we'll fail
in that area
too.
But God
knows.
And that's
why it is
him who
is able
to keep
you from
stumbling
and to
present you
blameless.
it's not
ourselves
coming and
saying,
here is
what I've
done.
But we
can say,
Lord,
in my
imperfect
love for
you,
in all
my
failings
before you,
I come
not through
myself,
but presented
blameless
through you.
For you
have promised
to keep
me,
that you
will keep
all who
put their
trust in
you.
And there's
much power
and there's
much comfort
in these
words.
It's a
benediction.
It's a
blessing on
God's
people.
And that's
the way
Jude concludes
this letter,
with these
powerful
words.
It's a
letter of
urgent
warnings
about our
own
responsibilities,
but it's a
letter too
reminding us
that it is
him who
keeps us.
And when
you think
of these
words,
now to
him who
is able
to keep
you from
stumbling.
Stumbling,
again,
we come
back to
thinking about
a child.
And so
often when I
think of
these words,
it reminds
me of a
child learning
to ride
their bike.
How little
by little
they learn
to ride,
first maybe
with both
stabilizers
on,
a little
bit wobbly.
then one
stabilizer
is taken
off and
they'll be
stumbling
then.
And then
the time
will come
when both
stabilizers
come off
and the
child is
wobbling
from side
to side.
But as a
parent,
as a
father or
a mother,
you take
hold of
the seat
or you
go alongside
them,
you keep
them from
stumbling.
It's almost
like that is
the image
that we have
here.
Him who
is able
to keep
you from
stumbling.
Him who
is with
you always.
The one
who is able
to keep
you.
The one
who we
see described
as having
his everlasting
arms underneath.
The one
who keeps
his people.
And so
we are to
follow the
example of
Jude himself
here.
The one
who persevered
in the
faith and
the hard
work of
the Christian
life.
But the
one who
is able
to praise
God in
the midst
of it
all.
So how
do we
persevere?
How then
do we
keep on?
We
remember,
beloved,
the predictions.
We remember,
beloved,
that we are
to build
ourselves up
in the
most holy
faith.
But above
all,
we remember
him,
who is
able to
keep you
from
stumbling
and to
present you
blameless
before the
presence of
his glory
with great
joy.
We have a
God who
is able
to keep
us.
Here,
before us
this night,
we have a
letter.
And on this
letter,
it says,
this is on
his majesty's
service.
verse,
it's not
to be
ignored.
So the
question is,
but you.
What will
you do
with this
word?
Will you
ignore it
and put it
away?
Or will you
open your
heart to
receive this
word and
see as a
people what
we are to
do to keep
ourselves,
us,
but above
all to
see what
God has
done to
keep us
from stumbling
and that he
is able to
keep us
for all
eternity.
May we
hear what
God the
Lord is
saying and
put our
trust in
him.
Let us
pray.
Our
Father in
heaven,
we rejoice
that you
are a
God who
speaks and
who has
not kept
silent,
that you
have not
turned away
from us,
but that
you are a
God who
is calling
his people
to heed
your word,
to hear what
you are
saying as
our Lord
and as
our King.
And so
help us to
hear that
you are
calling to
us as a
people,
every one
of us,
but you
this evening.
What will
you do?
So Lord,
bless us,
we pray,
and guide us
in all of
these things,
forgiving our
sins,
in Jesus'
name.
Amen.
We're going
to conclude
by singing
to God's
praise in
Psalm 139,
page 433,
Psalm 139,
at verse 16
down to
verse 18,
the tune is
Weatherby.
This is Psalm
reminds us
that the Lord
knows that
every circumstance,
even as we
see in these
verses that
we are formed
in the innermost
part, we are
formed in
his knowledge
of us.
Thine eyes
my substance
did behold,
yet being
unperfect,
and in the
volume of
thy book
my members
all were
writh,
which after
incontinuance
were fashioned
every one,
when as
they yet
as shapeless
were,
and of them
there was
none.
But yet
we see
how precious
also are
your thoughts,
O gracious
God,
to me,
and in
their sum
how passing
great and
numberless
they be.
So we'll sing
from verse 16
to 18
to God's
praise.
Amen.
Thy night
my substance
still
behold,
yet
and he
added,
and in
his
의 order
hold
high
of
my
members
of
wherein
chacun
We chapter in continuous
Where passion gave me war
When us created all shameless were
And nothing there was none
How precious also I thought
O gracious God to me
And in their song
How vows sing great
How dumb their heads believe
If I should count the path
The sound they would
Lord in number be
What time so ever
Nigh away
I am the one with thee
After the benediction I'll go to the door to my left
We'll close with the benediction
Now may grace, mercy and peace from God
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Rest upon and abide with you all
Now and forever more
Amen
Thank you.